Device for aligning and spacing parallel elements



April 28, 1959 M. EINBINDER ET AL 8 DEVICE FOR ALIGNING AND SPACING PARALLEL ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1957 /7 Z7 /0 43 a 6 F 1- I 11a.&. 20

/9 '7 r B /7 'ya 27 INVENTOR M4 raw f/NE/NDEP A? 77/01? WE ATzfbRNEY United States Patent DEVICE FOR ALIGNING AND SPACING PARALLEL ELEMENTS Milton Einbinder, Bayside, and Arthur W. Grube, Bronx, N.Y.

Application January 2, 1957, Serial No. 632,205

6 Claims. (Cl. 33-480) The present invention relates to a device for positioning a series of uniformly spaced parallel elements to meet varying requirements of slopes and distances. The invention is particularly adaptable for use in the construction of stairways, and more particularly to a device to aid in the layout and actual holding in position of the various elements of a stairway under construction or the holding of forms for the actual construction of concrete stairways or to act as an adjustable temporary stairway itself.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a completely adjustable device that can be made to accommodate an unlimited number of difierent requirements of slope and distances between a series of uniformly spaced parallel elements, such as the different relationships of slope, height of riser and width of tread in stairway construction.

With minor adaptations, the present device has a multitude of uses in stairway construction. It can be used as a template to expedite the marking of the locations and sizes of the riser and tread of the stairway, or it can be used to actually physically hold the various elements of a wooden or steel stairway in proper relative position while the elements themselves are being fastened together to make up the stairway.

The same device can be used to hold the forms used in concrete stair construction until the concrete is hardened.

The device can also be used, with minor adaptations, as a semi-permanent stairway itself.

In all of the foregoing uses the device is completely adjustable, permitting the accomplishment of uniform riser height and tread layout of any size desired at any slope that may be encountered in actual construction.

The present method of laying out stairways calls for repeated measurements and markings along the slope of the stairway to be constructed in order to locate the position and extent of the successive risers and treads. When used as a template, the present invention substantially simplifies and reduces the time necessarily employed in laying out the stairway. With two simple adjustments the entire stairway layout can be arrived at and repeated markings made simply by tracing lines from the device itself.

The unique feature of the present invention is its complete flexibility, permitting an adjustment to any conditions that may be found on the location where the stairway is desired. No matter what the slope may be between the lowest point of the stairway and the upper point thereof, and no matter what riser height and tread width is .desired, the device can be adjusted to accommodate the physical conditions that may be encountered.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated and described herein is the adaptation thereof for holding the forms of a concrete stairway while such stairway is under construction. It must be pointed out, howeveras will be easily seen from the description herein-that the other uses and adaptations of the invention are readily 2,883,759 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 available, not only in the stairway construction field but in other fields.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description and drawings thereof, in which drawmgs:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the invention being employed in the holding of forms during the construction of a concrete stairway;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the lower portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along hne 3-3 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along hne 4-4 on Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 on Fig. 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, the primary structural members of the device are two parallel bars, 10 and 11. The bars 10 and 11 can be made of rectangular tubing with open slots running their entire length. The parallel bars 10 and 11 are held in their parallel relationship by spacer links 12, the spacer links each being pivotally connected at the upper end thereof to the upper bar 10 at 13, and at the lower end thereof to the lower bar 11 at 14.

The spacer links 12 hold the bars 10 and 11 in a parallel relationship at all times but permit relative movement between the bars 10 and 11 so that they may be moved either closer or further away from one another. Also linking the two parallel bars 10 and 11 are a series of scissors bars 16 and a series of scissors bars 17. Scissors bars 16 are pivotally linked together by pins 18. In a like manner, pins 19 pivotally link together scissors bars 17.

As can best be seen in Fig. 3, each of the parallel bars 10 and 11 has formed therein a channel 20 and 21 respectively. The outer ends of pins 19 are provided with heads 23 which ride in channel 20 of the upper bar 10, and the outer ends of pins 18 are provided with heads 24 which ride in channel 21 of the lower bar 11.

Outriggers 26, which carry the concrete forms for the risers, are each supported by the pin 18 positioned substantially in the middle of the outrigger 26 and by the pins 19 which are engaged in slots 27 at the upper ends of the Outriggers 26. One outrigger 26 is located between each two links of the scissors bars 16 and 17. To obtain additional structural rigidity wingnuts 28 are provided. By tightening these wingnuts 28 the entire device can be locked into any desired position.

By adjusting the distance between the upper bar 10 and the lower bar 11, the distance along the slope between the outriggers 26 can be regulated. In order to accomplish this adjustment the threaded control member best shown in Fig. 4 is provided. Rod 29, threaded at its lower end as illustrated, is threaded into nut 30 which is rigidly secured to the lower parallel bar 11.

Collars 31 secured against axial movement relative to rod 29 are journalled within the channel 20 of the upper bar 10. Crank 32 is provided to permit easy rotation of the rod 29.

As can be appreciated from Figs. 2 and 4, rotation of the crank 32 will cause the parallel bars 10 and 11 to move either closer together or further apart. On such movement of the parallel bars 10 and 11 relative to one another, the heads 23 and 24 will slide within the channels 20 and 21 of parallel bars 10 and 11. Since the outriggers 26 are carried by the pins 18 and 19 linking together the scissors bars 16 and 17, movement of the parallel bars 10 and 11 relative to one another will cause similar movement of the outriggers either closer together or further apart.

In order to adjust the relative positions between scissors bars 16 and 17, thereby adjusting the position of the outriggers 26 relative to a vertical line, thumbscrew 34 is provided.

As can best be seen in Fig. 5, thumbscrew 34 has a right-handed thread at one end and a left-handed thread at the other end. The lower end of thumbscrew 34 is threaded into lug 35 which is rigidly secured to parallel bar 11. The upper end of screw 34 is threaded into lug 36 which is rigidly secured to the last link of the scissors bars 17. By grasping the knurled collar 37 the thumbscrew 34 can be rotated and the position of the scissors bars 17 relative to the scissors bars 16 can be adjusted.

When used as a device to support the forms 38 for the risers of a concrete stairway, the forms 38 are secured to the lower end of the Outriggers 26 by screws 39. Any desired rake or shape of riser can be obtained by proper selection of forms 33 or by'adjustment of thumbscrew 34 to position the Outriggers 26 relative to the vertical.

In use, the stairway constructor first selects or calculates the layout of tread and riser height desired. Charts can be provided to calibrate the device for all desired conditions. By adjusting crank 32 and thumbscrew 34 to either the selected or calibrated positions, the outriggers 26 can be positioned to the proper rise and tread layout. The lower end of parallel bar 11 is then secured at the floor level as shown at 42, and the upper end secured at the upper floor or rested thereon as shown diagrammatically at 43. By tightening wingnuts 28, the entire device can be rigidly locked into position.

In like manner, a similar device, similarly adjusted, is positioned on the other side of the stairway, and the riser forms supported there between, or even cantilevering somewhat beyond each device, if job conditions so dictate.

By proper selection of riser forms 38, the stairway constructor can then establish the height of riser desired, and by adjustment of screw 34 or by proper selection of riser forms 33, the rake or shape of riser which may be desired can be obtained.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the stairway constructor will have at his disposal a unit completely adjustable to variations in slope, height of rise and width of tread, which can be quickly and rapidly adapted to the actual conditions found on the job location, or as shown on architects plans.

While the foregoing discussion has been particularly directed to the use of the device in the construction of concrete stairways, it can readily be seen that if wooden or metal stairways are being employed, the device can be used simply as a template, with the stairway constructor using the Outriggers 26 as guides for the proper marking of the stairway stringers without the necessity for individually measuring and marking each riser and tread.

in a similar manner, the device can be used as a jig to hold the component parts of a wooden or metallic stairway in their proper position relative to one another while these component parts are being permanently secured together. For such use the Outriggers can be provided with clamps or other devices for temporarily holding the component parts of the stairway in proper relationship to one another.

In some situations, such as army camps or mass-construction projects, it may be desired to use the device as a permanent stairway itself. The device could be mass-produced and then adapted and installed on the job to any set of: conditions that may be found. In such use, the Outriggers 26 would be formed in an L shape, the vertical portion of the outrigger acting as the riser and the horizontal portion acting as the tread. If desired, the vertical portion of the outrigger could be extended vertically upward a substantial distance to act as stair posts to support a hand rail of any type desired.

We claim:

1. A device for aligning and spacing parallel, elements 4 comprising two parallel supporting bars, a plurality of scissors bars linked together for pivotal movement relative to one another, means for securing each extreme end of said plurality of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars, said last-mentioned means preventing movement of the ends of said plurality of scissors bars relative to the supporting bar to which it is secured, means for securing each of said plurality of scissors bars other than at said extreme ends to said supporting bars for slidable movement relative to said supporting bars; a plurality and equally s; :d members, means for securing said equally spaced members to said scissors bars, said last-mentioned means providing a pivotal connection between said plurality of members and said scissors bars, and means for adjustably positioning one end of said plurality of scissors bars aicng the supporting bar to which it is secured.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, including means for adjustably positioning said two supporting bars at different distances from one another.

3. A device for aligning and spacing parallel elements comprising two parallel supporting bars, a plurality of scissors bars, each end of said plurality of scissors bars being secured against movement relative to one of said supporting bars, all of said plurality of scissors bars being linked together at pivot points for pivotal movement relative to one another except at said ends thereof, means for securing each of said plurality of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars for slidable movement relative to the supporting bar to which the scissors bar is secured, a plurality of equally spaced members, means for securing said equally spaced members to said scissors bars, said last-mentioned means providing a pivotal conncction between said plurality members and said scissors bars, means for adjustably positioning one end of said plurality of scissors bars along the supporting bar to which it is secured.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, including means for adjustably changing the distance between said two parallel supporting bars.

5. A device for aligning and spacing parallel elements comprising two parallel supporting bars, a first set of scissors bars, means for linking said first set of scissors bars together for pivotal movement relative to one another except at the extreme ends thereof, means for securing one extreme end of said first set of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars, and means for securing the other extreme end of first set of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars; a second set of scissors bars, means for securing one extreme end of said second set of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars and means for securing the other extreme end of said second set of scissors bars to one of said supporting bars, means for linking said second set of scissors bars together for pivotal movement relative to one another except at the extreme ends thereof, means for adjustably positioning one extreme end of one of said sets of scissors bars along the supporting bar to which said end is secured relative to the position of the extreme end of the other of said sets of scissors bars; a plurality of equally spaced members, means for securing said equally spaced members to each of said sets of scissors bars, said last-mentioned means providing a pivotal connection between said plurality of members and said scissors bars.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, including means for adjustably changing the distance between said two parallel supporting bars.

References tilted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,319,385 Gottschalk Oct. 21, 1919 1,331,476 Ackerman Feb. 24, 1920 1,452,828 Dcitz Apr. 24, l923 1,787,799 Soule et al Jan. 6, 1931 2,306,722 Fox Dec. '29. 1942 

